Do the mat

For an hour each week, the Rainbow Warriors are tumbling and rolling and jumping and sprinting and, let's face it, gasping.

Mat drills were popularized at cold-weather schools as a supplement to offseason conditioning programs. In such places as Ohio State, the drills are held indoors and on mats. Because this is Hawaii and there is no indoor-training facility — nor mats, for that budgetary matter — the Warriors tumble, roll, jump, sprint and gasp on Ching field.

Early signs indicate the Warriors are collectively in shape this offseason. The test comes when the Warriors open spring ball in April.

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The Warriors are scheduled to conduct walk-on tryouts on Feb. 21. The tryouts are open only to students already enrolled at UH. For details, call (808) 956-6508.

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Reminder: Tonight's UH volleyball match against California Baptist will not be shown on OC Sports. First serve is at 7:05 p.m.